Hello everyone! I'm super, duper sorry about delays, my life has been a little crazy! I released a book called "After the Dawn" (promise the editing is better than this story ;-) And I've had no time! However, I've really enjoyed writing this story and I'm glad so many of you love it as well! So here is the next Ch. Hopefully I can do a CH every week or so at the latest. Thanks for sticking with me! If you want to see my book it's on Amazon! Thanks again for all the support!
Tally stood at the entrance of the hotel waiting on Jilla with a single red rose. Dressed in navy cargo pants tucked into her military boots, she choose a simple polo shirt for the top. She had gotten a few wayward glances from her family as she left, but they didn't question her. Now as she waited on the Asari she wondered if she had made the right choice on coming for the date. Clouds of doubt seeped in as Tally stood waiting. A voice from behind made all the doubts rush away.
Jilla smiled when she spotted the solider waiting for her; quickly she made her way down the stairs and spoke softly. "I see you're prompt. That's a good sign."
Turning to face Jilla, she couldn't help but smile back at the Asari who was looking back at her, dressed in a simple tan dress that cut away to perfectly round breast; Tally had to take a deep breath in because unbeknownst to her she had forgotten to breath. "Wow! You look amazing!" Moving the small rose slightly Tally handed it to Jilla. "I got this for you."
Jilla took the flower lightly brushing Tally's hand in the process. Pulling the flower to her nose she took in a breath and let the flora rest in her nose before exhaling. "Thank you, it's perfect."
Tally was pleased Jilla had liked the small gift. Remembering something her momma had once said before her first date, 'always show up with a flower, and she'll never forgot you.' Tally hadn't listened to her that time, but she wanted anything she could get for an upper hand with this woman. "Shall we?"
Jilla looped her arm around Tally's. "We shall." The duo strolled out of the hotel towards the theme park.
The couple rode almost every ride at the park; both seemed to be having the time of their life. On Tally's suggestion they now sat at the small ice cream shop sharing a bowl of chocolate. Tally took another spoonful before asking. "Really, you'd never had this?"
Jilla smiled as her face tinted light blue. "Truly, I have not, however I must say it's amazing!"
"Not as amazing as your eyes…" Tally paused; wanting to slap herself she didn't know where that had come from.
Jilla reached over the table and lightly touched Tally's hand. The duo shared a brief smile before finishing the ice cream and heading out of the shop. Leaning over some railings they watched as the fireworks above started before the park closed. Jilla leaned into Tally who had wrapped her arms around her from behind. Goddess this feels right. Turning around in Tally's grip Jilla looked up into the sweet face staring back at her. Both lost in thoughts as their lips were so close they could feel the breath on each others. Jilla closed her eyes just as Tally did, moving so they were only an inch apart.
"Shepard! Shepard you dog!" Steve Vega broke the trance of the couple before they could kiss. Quickly patting his friend on her back, Tally pulled away from Jilla and greeted her friend.
"Hey Steve." Glancing back at Jilla she couldn't read the expression that crossed her face. "What are you doing here?"
"I got the N7 nod! So I start training next week, I thought I'd come pay my respects to your family."
Jilla finally let the name sink into her head. "Shepard? You didn't tell me that was your last name."
Tally nodded at Steve in an annoyed gaze before facing Jilla. "I'm sorry; I didn't want you to like me for my name…"
Before Tally had the chance to say more Jilla started walking away, "I can't do this. I have to go…"
Tally tried to stop Jilla but she was too quick. "Fuck!" Turning back to Steve her anger played on her face.
Steve once again patted her on the back before he chucked. "Sorry my friend, but if your name scares her off that easily it's better to know now.
Tally didn't quite share that same thought as she scowled once again at her friend. "You know I always love when you sneak up on me."
Steve chuckled. "Come on, the least I can do is buy you a drink."
The next morning Tally made her way back into the family home after a brisk jog. She had been warned not to go too hard on herself, and for the most part had followed the doctor's rules. However, this morning the thought of the beautiful Asari flooded her thoughts. As she made her way into the family kitchen, she didn't notice the few extra voices coming from the living area.
Liara called out for her daughter. "Tally is that you? Please come into the living room, I have someone I want you to meet."
Tally quickly sat down the jug of orange juice and grabbed the glass she had just filled. Stepping into the living room her eyes almost bulged out of her head when she spotted Jilla sitting next to Rena on the sofa.
Liara was a bit confused at her daughter's reaction to the Asari, and then it clicked as she glanced at Jilla noticing a similar look crossing the young maiden's face. "Do you know each other?"
Jilla was quick to speak. "Your daughter was kind enough to help me find a place to stay my first night here." Inside her heart was breaking. When she had felt Tally's breath on her lips, for the first time in her life she had felt alive. But when Tally's friend reviled her last name, she knew her mother would not approve of her romancing the bosses daughter. So she did what a good Asari did, she walked away. "It is good to see you again Tally." She hoped the look she gave Tally would be enough to convey she wasn't ready to tell Liara just where their relationship had almost gone.
Tally caught the meaning and for whatever reasons she would respect Jilla. "You as well."
Rena was quick to break the starring going on between the two. "Can you believe she came all the way from Omega?"
Taken aback from that statement Tally glanced at Jilla once again. "Omega, I thought you lived on Thessia?"
"I visited it, the same as you." Jilla was not ready to share her story just yet.
Liara picked up on the young woman's unease. "Jilla is Aria T'loak's daughter. Aria sent her to live with us to help with Rena. Jilla is a talented biotic."
Tally just nodded her head. Words wouldn't form as she stared blankly at the wall with the information she had been given. Aria was her mom's friend that was true, but she had also heard the unsavory things about the Asari as well.
Liara wasn't sure what was going on with her daughter but she knew she should intervene. "Tally, I know your mom and I set up the shed outback for your and Rena's adventures. However, I thought Jilla might feel more comfortable in her own place, would you be okay with letting her stay in there?"
"That would be fine with me." A slight red tint crossed Tally's face as she spoke, as her mind immediately thought of the flash of Jilla she had seen in the same shed.
"Liara, you really don't have to go out of your way, a spare bedroom is fine with me. I'm sure with the N7 program about to begin; Tally might need her area to train."
Liara's eyes turned cold blue as she stared at Tally. "What N7 program?"
"I thought you knew?" Tally was a little annoyed as to why her momma was getting mad at her for something she was sure she already knew about, however, with the look in Liara's face she was second guessing the thought that she knew. "You did know didn't you?"
"I most certainly did not." Liara glanced at Rena. "Sweetie, why don't you go outside and play for a little bit."
Rena could always tell when her sister was about to get in trouble, and this seemed like big time trouble. "No, I don't want to."
Liara raised her eyebrow as she looked at her youngest daughter.
"You know on second thought, outside sounds great." Rena padded softly out the back door, into the grassy fields.
Jilla looked a little spellbound as she glanced between Liara and Tally. "You know I'll just wait outside." She stood up, grabbed her two bags and went outside.
"Did your mother put you up to this?" Ice ran through Liara's voice.
"No! I thought you guys did it to keep me here!" Tally let the first signs of defiance flow through her voice.
"You will turn it down, no questions, you will turn it down."
Tally started at her momma, dumbfounded at the harshness running through her voice. "You know what, I can't. I accepted it this morning." Tally knew she should have stayed and talked things out with Liara, but like most times lately she turned and stormed out of the house.
Liara flopped back on the sofa and punched a code on her omni-tool. Shepard's face flashed on the small screen.
"Hi honey, I was just about to call you."
Liara let no kindness cross her face or flow through her voice. "Shepard, no one is hurt, but we need to talk. Get home now." With that Liara disconnected the communication and let tears fall from her eyes.
TBC…